Victory of Jailed Abdul Rashid Sheikh Sparks Political Debate in Kashmir

Victory of Jailed Abdul Rashid Sheikh Sparks Political Debate in Kashmir/ANI

VoM News Desk | June 6, 2024 | 10:41 AM IST | Breaking News, Jammu Kashmir | Follow on Google News

Victory of Jailed Abdul Rashid Sheikh Sparks Political Debate in Kashmir

Victory of Jailed Abdul Rashid Sheikh Sparks Political Debate in Kashmir

Key Highlights:

1. Engineer Rashid’s victory viewed as a boost to secessionist sentiments.
2. Omar Abdullah criticizes the empowerment of secessionists through electoral politics.
3. Mehbooba Mufti calls for respecting the mandate and releasing Rashid.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid, secured a significant victory from the Baramulla constituency despite being imprisoned on terror funding charges. His win has stirred controversy, with Jammu Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah warning that Rashid’s victory could embolden secessionists and reignite Kashmir’s Islamist movement. Abdullah, who lost to Rashid, expressed his concerns on X, stating that efforts to reintegrate secessionists into electoral politics have historically led to unintended consequences, such as empowering violent factions rather than mainstreaming them.

Omar Abdullah’s comments drew sharp criticism from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its member Waheed Para. Para accused Abdullah of disregarding the people’s democratic mandate and resorting to divisive rhetoric reminiscent of past political conflicts. He emphasized the need for a more inclusive and prudent approach, similar to PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti’s stance. Mufti congratulated Engineer Rashid on his victory and called on the government to respect the electoral verdict by releasing him from custody.

Engineer Rashid ran as an independent candidate and won the Baramulla seat with a margin of 204,142 votes, garnering a total of 472,481 votes. His victory marks a significant political shift, with former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti urging the central government to honor the people’s choice and release Rashid.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir resulted in the National Conference and the BJP each winning two seats, while the BJP did not field any candidates in Kashmir. The outcome has highlighted the complex and contentious nature of Kashmir’s political landscape, with Rashid’s victory serving as a focal point for ongoing debates about secessionism, electoral politics, and democratic expression in the region.

VoM News Desk

VoM News is an online web portal in jammu Kashmir offers regional, National & global news.